航司锁座“惹众怒”，中航协要规范预留座位等行为

Core Viewpoint - The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is guiding the China Air Transport Association to establish a group standard for flight seat reservation rules, aiming to address consumer complaints regarding airlines' seat locking practices and to better meet diverse passenger needs [1][10]. Group 1: Seat Locking Practices - A recent survey by the Jiangsu Consumer Protection Committee revealed that the average seat locking ratio for ten major airlines in the economy class is 38.7%, with some routes exceeding 60% [2][3]. - Specific routes, such as Spring Airlines' "Nanjing-Lanzhou," have a seat locking ratio over 60%, while Shenzhen Airlines' "Shenzhen-Zhanjiang" exceeds 50% [3]. - Airlines justify seat locking for reasons such as reserving seats for special passengers and maintaining flight balance, but many locked seats are in preferred locations, contradicting these claims [4][5]. Group 2: Revenue Generation - Airlines are increasingly relying on auxiliary revenue, which is projected to reach $148.4 billion in 2024, accounting for nearly 15% of total industry revenue [2][7]. - Domestic airlines face challenges in diversifying revenue streams and often receive public complaints about their practices, which may change with the CAAC's new standards [2][10]. - The auxiliary revenue model in international airlines is more developed, with Delta Airlines reporting that its diversified income streams account for 60% of total revenue [6][8]. Group 3: Consumer Rights and Transparency - Consumers often need to pay or use points to unlock preferred seats, which raises concerns about transparency and the potential infringement of consumer rights [5][10]. - Airlines have been criticized for not clearly communicating seat locking rules and fees during the ticket purchasing process, leading to consumer confusion [5][10]. - Legal experts argue that airlines should include all services in the ticket price and clearly inform consumers about any additional charges related to seat selection [5][10]. Group 4: Industry Standards and Future Outlook - The CAAC's initiative to create a standard for seat reservation practices is seen as a positive step towards improving industry governance and protecting consumer interests [10][11]. - Industry experts suggest that a reasonable seat locking ratio should be established to balance market operations and public service, with recommendations for at least 50% of seats to remain available for free selection [11].